Recording a class is easy. Listening to it all again is not. Here is how to turn a lecture recording into text, then into notes that are easy to study from.
Before you record
- Put your phone as close to the instructor as you can. Recognition improves a lot.
- If classmates are chatting or the air conditioning is loud, you may need noise removal later.
- Keep the slides or handouts. They help you get terms right when you write your notes.
Step 1: Convert the recording to text
- If the recording is noisy, clean it up first with the Voice Noise Remover.
- Add the file to the Audio to Text Converter and choose the larger model (small) if you can. Lectures are full of technical terms, and smaller models get more of them wrong.
- When it finishes, listen back and fix wrong words, especially names, technical terms and numbers.
Step 2: Organize it into study notes
A raw transcript is hard to reread. Rewrite it into this template and exam prep gets much easier:
- Today's topic: one line
- 3 to 5 key concepts: the term plus a one-line explanation
- Examples and problems: worked examples from class
- Next class and assignments: announcements you do not want to miss
For long recordings, don't read the transcript top to bottom. Copy what fits the template and skip small talk and repeated explanations.
Lectures over an hour
Converting a whole lecture at once can take a long time. Split it at the break, or use the MP3 Cutter to convert the most important parts first (for example, the part the instructor said will be on the exam).
Sharing with a study group
Take turns recording and writing up lectures so no one has to do it every time. Avoid posting other students' or the instructor's recordings publicly without permission, and keep shared notes inside the group.
Common problems
- It takes too long: the first run includes the model download. After that it is cached and faster. Splitting long files also helps.
- Several presenters: transcripts are not split by speaker. For group presentations, mark who is speaking as you edit.
- Numbers and formulas are wrong: speech recognition struggles with numbers, formulas and foreign names. Check against the slides.
Using your notes
Finished notes are great for review before an exam and easy to share with a classmate who missed class. If you need timestamps, the Subtitle Generator (SRT · VTT) can create an SRT file to watch alongside a lecture video.
How is this different from meeting notes?
Meeting notes are short and focus on decisions and owners. Lecture notes should be longer and focus on understanding concepts and examples. For meetings, see how to write meeting notes from a recording.
Sources and date checked
Checked: October 4, 2026
- OpenAI Whisper — https://github.com/openai/whisper
This article is general information. Accuracy depends on the recording environment and the speaker.
See the meeting & lecture recording workflow for the whole process.
Frequently asked questions
Does it recognize technical terms?
Smaller models get technical terms and foreign words wrong more often. Use the larger model (small) when possible and always review the result.
Can it handle lectures over an hour?
Yes, but it takes a while. Split the file at the break or convert the parts you need first.
How should I organize the notes?
Use four parts: today's topic, key concepts, examples and problems, and next-class announcements.
What about noisy classroom recordings?
Clean the file with the noise remover first; recognition often improves.
Is my recording stored on a server?
No. Conversion and editing both happen in your browser.